Played at Cockfosters
Report by Steve Hamilton
It was morning mayhem as the rain came down in the peaceful
suburban area of Cockfosters in North London.
I was told at 9
am that this fixture against Southgate Compton was cancelled. I
informed our team to make alternative plans and that I would see
them next week.
Ring-ring at 11am, I received a call saying
the rain had gone and was it possible that I could get a team
together as they had a team and ground waiting for us! As Bob the
Builder would say "Can we fix it?" "Yes we can!” By 12pm I had
managed to get 10 players together for a 3pm start.
We won
the toss and decided to bat. We put on 56 in 11 overs for our first
wicket when Jakaria Ahmed departed for a belligerent 34.
Things turned against us as Southgate’s specialist left-arm spinner
Tayyab delivered some precision darts removing Mo Junaid and Asad
Mushtaq in 4 balls and finished with incredible figures of 7-3-7-2.
We were stuttering at 122 for 5 off 29 overs when Salim Mithani
stepped up and put his foot on the gas to score a rapid 22.
Unfortunately, he was run out going for a quick single from the
non-striker’s end. He was already halfway down the wicket and it was
too late to turn and get back in time.
Umair Shahzad played a
courageous innings full of flair, artistry and patience. It was the
glue that held our innings together with a well constructed 52 not
out, including four fours and one monstrous six over deep
mid-wicket. We closed on a respectable total of 167 off 35 overs.
I'm slipping back into old habits again! At the halfway point I
was making the most of clubhouse bar.
Southgate clearly
wanted revenge for their early season defeat against us. They got
off to the perfect start, reaching 66 off 17 overs without losing a
wicket.
Then a minor miracle happened in the form of a
superb piece of fielding. (Yes, I am about to blow my own trumpet!)
A throw at the stumps had passed behind our wicket keeper into the
leg gully area. At lightning speed I sprinted from square leg,
gathered the ball and threw it low and hard at the striker’s end.
Salim was there behind the stumps to knock off the bails and Wallis
was run out for 28.
After that breakthrough things turned
massively in our favour and Southgate collapsed from 66 for 0 to 106
for 6. Salim took two wickets and finished with exceptional figures
of 7-1-21-2. Once again the ultimate all-rounder Jakaria took three
wickets and has amazingly taken all his 15 wickets this season
cleaned bowled! He finished with immaculate figures of 7-0-32-3.
Our other accomplished all-rounder Umair was the major
difference in this game. He removed Southgate’s dangerous opening
batsman Shearley lbw for 69, swinging the balance in our direction.
He continued to mesmerise the batsmen with unplayable yorkers and
in- and out-swingers, removing Patel for a duck and ending his
bowling masterclass with figures of 7-1-15-2.
Talal Ali
bowled at tidy spell and came on at the death to secure a
close-fought victory by 8 runs.
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